Interpersonal relations and weight status among 3rd & 4th grade students in Texas

Overweight children often experience discrimination and stigmatization as a result of their physical appearance. This study examined the association between weight status and interpersonal relations with parents and peers among a sample of 990 3rd and 4th graders (mean age = 9.28 years; 67% Hispanic, 5% black, 28% white/other). Students were classified as normal weight (51.3%) if they had a BMI < 85th percentile based on CDC growth charts. Students with a BMI ≥ 85th percentile (48.7%) were categorized as at-risk of overweight or overweight. Interpersonal relations with parents and peers were examined with the Behavioral Assessment System for Children second edition (BASC-2) survey. The interpersonal relations with parents scale included nine items and measured "the individual's perception of being important in the family, the status of the parent-child relationship, and the child's perception of the degree of parental trust and concern." The interpersonal relations with peers scale included six items and measured "the individual's reports of success in relating to others and the degree of enjoyment derived from this interaction." Interpersonal relations scores were categorized as acceptable, at-risk, or clinically significant. Students who scored in the clinically significant category of interpersonal relations with peers were 1.7 times (CI:1.07-2.77) more likely to be in the at-risk of overweight or overweight category than those who scored in the acceptable category of interpersonal relations with peers. Weight status was not significantly related to interpersonal relations with parents. Interventions should address these poor relationships between overweight children and their peers.